"No, he went off in a hurry and I couldn't even get my toy back."
"This puts an entirely different light on the matter," said Mr. Nichols, speaking slowly. "If Perry is telling the truth, then probably Jay Kline went off without suspecting that the lantern was in his coat. He may have pulled the Kirmenbach job."
"And the toy lantern probably fell from his pocket while he was working at the wall safe," Penny added eagerly. "Can we prove it, Dad?"
"It may be possible to make Kline confess," the detective replied. "I'll go down to Kendon right away and question him."
With Herman Crocker in custody there was no one to look after Perry, so Penny took the lad back to her cottage. He was tucked into bed with no inkling of the unfortunate fate which had befallen his grandfather.
Penny and Susan sat up until late awaiting the return of Mr. Nichols from Kendon. He came in around midnight and the girls saw at once that he was highly elated.
"Well, Penny, you've won the reward!" he called out gaily.
"Not really!" exclaimed Penny.
"Yes, the case is closed," Mr. Nichols declared, "and Kirmenbach's reward will go to you."
"Tell us all about it," pleaded Penny eagerly.